ASX Limited delivered operating revenue of $1.25 billion for the year to 30 June 2026, representing growth of 13.3% on the prior corresponding period, with all four business units contributing to the result. Strong market activity and demand for post-trade services, supported by global volatility, enabled the operator to grow revenue across its product portfolio.
Underlying net profit after tax reached $536.4 million, up 5.2%, though profit growth lagged revenue expansion due to a 21.1% surge in total expenses to $557.4 million. Expense growth was driven by investment in the Accelerate modernisation program, higher depreciation as technology projects moved into operation, and one-off costs from the ASIC inquiry settlement, which totalled $51.5 million after tax. On a statutory basis, net profit fell 3.5% to $484.9 million as the significant items weighed on the result, yet the underlying performance shows genuine operational momentum.
The Listings division delivered its strongest year since 2022, with 100 new listings that brought $32.6 billion in quoted market capitalisation to ASX, up 85.5% year-on-year. The Technology and Data segment also performed well, with revenue growing 8.0% from strong demand for equities and derivatives data. This performance underscores ASX’s value to capital markets participants during volatile periods and its growing importance as a data service provider.
ASX declared a final dividend of 104.7 cents per share, up 2.8% on the interim distribution, bringing total full-year dividends to 206.5 cents per share. While the total dividend was 7.5% lower than the prior year, the company maintained a 75% payout ratio of underlying net profit after tax, with all distributions fully franked. The underlying return on equity of 13.7%, up 10 basis points from the prior year, sits within the company’s medium-term target range of 12.5% to 14.0%.
The results show ASX operating effectively through regulatory challenge while investing for future growth, yet they also highlight rising cost pressures. The company’s ability to manage the expense base will be critical over coming years, as the Accelerate program generates ongoing depreciation costs until full productivity is achieved. Investors should monitor whether revenue growth can sustainably exceed expense growth and whether ASIC inquiry costs are truly one-off. This announcement is price sensitive and designated material by ASX.
View the full ASX announcement (PDF)
About ASX Limited (ASX: ASX)
ASX Limited is Australia’s primary securities exchange operator and a vertically integrated multi-asset exchange company based in Sydney, Australia. The company provides trading, clearing, settlement, and post-trade services for equities, fixed income, commodities, derivatives, and other financial instruments. As the largest exchange in the southern hemisphere and one of the top 20 global exchange groups, ASX serves as the central market operator for Australian securities and financial markets.
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